Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-03


Men read the legend and turned away
with a shiver. Two hundred miles OF
snake and wolf and demon! 1t was
taking terrible chances.
1t had been a rough ride, with
scarcely an hours halt for rest, and
the mule drank as if long deprived of
water. Little by little he raised his
head from the spring, and at last he
lifted his nose clear out of the water
with an '.o-o-o-f!'' of satisfaction. The
mans tongue burned for water, but he
did not hurry his movements. He be-
gan at the peak on his right and care
fully looked over the ground in q quar-
ter-circle 10 the north. Then he lifted
himself in the stirrups and surveyed
the ground to the left-to the right
in front-and his circle was complete.
1t was plain-sterile, %parched,
broken and ridged-lands which pro-
duce only for reptiles and wild beasts.
A serpent lay basking in the sur a few
yards distant. A gaunt, wild-eyed
wolf peered out from behind "a rock
scarce pistol shot away and CRASHED
his teeth in disappointment that it was
not other game. The scout smiled
with satisfaction. He could detect
nothing of the foe he most dreaded. He
leaps to the ground, strips off the sad
die, and while the mule picks at the
sweet grass around the spring the
scout breaks his fast from the bread
and meat in his haversack.
''Hi-ek! HEX! Hi-ek!'
1t IS the call of a vulture. sailing in
circles over the spring. Did you eve
see a vuIture Of the plain? A heavy
bodied bird OF sOmher color. with fierce
beak. and talons like the claws of "a
tiger. The living is nothing to him;
death in his feast.
s'il-ek! HEX! Hi-ekl'
When you hear that cry look out
Death is near at hand.
AT the second call the mule raised
his head in "A startled way and east a
swift glance on every side. The scout
was slower in his movements. He
loosened his revolvcrs before be moved,
and AS he rose UP he had his rifle in
his hands.
"lii-ekl HEX! Hi-e&!'
What is itP The man turns slowly
on his heel to scan the country, and
brave and fearless as he IS his heart in
| creases It's beats and his eyes bctray
anxiety. The vulture is never mis-
taken. The death-call is never uttered
without reason. There are three min
utes of such suspense as try mems
ncrves-of such silence that the flap!
flap! of the vulture's great wings can
be heard rs he sails his circle.
.'Hi-cki Hi !"
All! "A score of savages suddenly APP
pear On the crest of the ridge half II
mile 80 the west, each n painted and
bedecked-each one mounted and
thirstiug for blood. They have been in
ambush for hours, and now their wait
ing has been rewarded. They wheel
to the right and left until they are in
line. Not al wboep has been ut
tered-not Il shout has broken the ST.
lencc. The scout faces them. One
-ten-hfteen-.wenty-twc!
An even hundred miles 10 Fort Sully,
An wen hundred miles TO Camp Rob
inson! One 30 twentS-two.
.'Iii-ekl HEX! III .eBl' creams h
buzzard in exuItatioa.
The bronze which the summer sun of
the west has burned upon the scout 5
cheek pales a little AS the line advances
| to encirclc him, and his fingers tighten
on his rifle until the clutch would make
human flesh cry out in agony, but there
is never a culver Of the lip-never a
tremble of the limb.
Now the fight opens. There is shout
and shot and swift circling. The
l-u~-a o..oa - A. .lA... - -